Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers
Abstract
Combining a chirped laser pulse with a chromatic lens yields a flying focus—a laser focus that moves dynamically in time. This provides control over the propagation of the peak laser intensity within an extended focal region that can be many times larger than the system’s Rayleigh length. Any velocity is achievable, including backward relative to the laser propagation direction. Previous simulation results have shown that a laser beam with a flying focus can create a counter-propagating ionization wave and subsequently pump a frequency-downshifted laser via the stimulated Raman scattering instability. Compared to a conventional Raman amplification scheme, several advantages were highlighted, including improved temperature control, plasma uniformity, and precursor growth mitigation. Here, we extend those results to demonstrate additional benefits: (1) the flying focus makes it possible for an unseeded Raman amplifier to produce a short, high-intensity beam; and (2) the flying focus minimizes collisional absorption of the pump, facilitating amplifier operation at higher plasma densities. Preliminary experiments have laid the groundwork for a high-performance plasma-based laser amplifier. The focal spot dynamics were initially confirmed at low intensity. It was subsequently demonstrated that ionization waves of arbitrary velocity can be produced at higher intensity. Here, we show a counter-propagating ionizationmore »
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1489984
- Report Number(s):
- 2018-15, 1454
Journal ID: ISSN 0741-3335; 2018-15, 1454, 2411
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0001944
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 61; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0741-3335
- Publisher:
- IOP Science
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; stimulated Raman scattering, flying focus, Raman amplification, plasma-based laser amplifier, ionization wave
Citation Formats
Turnbull, D., Bahk, S-W, Begishev, I. A., Boni, R., Bromage, J., Bucht, S., Davies, A., Franke, P., Haberberger, D., Katz, J., Kessler, T. J., Milder, A. L., Palastro, J. P., Shaw, J. L., and Froula, D. H. Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1088/1361-6587/aada63.
Turnbull, D., Bahk, S-W, Begishev, I. A., Boni, R., Bromage, J., Bucht, S., Davies, A., Franke, P., Haberberger, D., Katz, J., Kessler, T. J., Milder, A. L., Palastro, J. P., Shaw, J. L., & Froula, D. H. Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aada63
Turnbull, D., Bahk, S-W, Begishev, I. A., Boni, R., Bromage, J., Bucht, S., Davies, A., Franke, P., Haberberger, D., Katz, J., Kessler, T. J., Milder, A. L., Palastro, J. P., Shaw, J. L., and Froula, D. H. Wed .
"Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aada63. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1489984.
@article{osti_1489984,
title = {Flying focus and its application to plasma-based laser amplifiers},
author = {Turnbull, D. and Bahk, S-W and Begishev, I. A. and Boni, R. and Bromage, J. and Bucht, S. and Davies, A. and Franke, P. and Haberberger, D. and Katz, J. and Kessler, T. J. and Milder, A. L. and Palastro, J. P. and Shaw, J. L. and Froula, D. H.},
abstractNote = {Combining a chirped laser pulse with a chromatic lens yields a flying focus—a laser focus that moves dynamically in time. This provides control over the propagation of the peak laser intensity within an extended focal region that can be many times larger than the system’s Rayleigh length. Any velocity is achievable, including backward relative to the laser propagation direction. Previous simulation results have shown that a laser beam with a flying focus can create a counter-propagating ionization wave and subsequently pump a frequency-downshifted laser via the stimulated Raman scattering instability. Compared to a conventional Raman amplification scheme, several advantages were highlighted, including improved temperature control, plasma uniformity, and precursor growth mitigation. Here, we extend those results to demonstrate additional benefits: (1) the flying focus makes it possible for an unseeded Raman amplifier to produce a short, high-intensity beam; and (2) the flying focus minimizes collisional absorption of the pump, facilitating amplifier operation at higher plasma densities. Preliminary experiments have laid the groundwork for a high-performance plasma-based laser amplifier. The focal spot dynamics were initially confirmed at low intensity. It was subsequently demonstrated that ionization waves of arbitrary velocity can be produced at higher intensity. Here, we show a counter-propagating ionization front moving at approximately the speed of light—the optimal result for a Raman amplifier.},
doi = {10.1088/1361-6587/aada63},
journal = {Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion},
number = 1,
volume = 61,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Wed Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
Web of Science
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Works referencing / citing this record:
Flying focus: Spatial and temporal control of intensity for laser-based applications
journal, March 2019
- Froula, D. H.; Palastro, J. P.; Turnbull, D.
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 26, Issue 3
Laser frequency upconversion in plasmas with finite ionization rates
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